Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou met Tyson Fury and declared that he is “only beginning” his journey in boxing ahead of his heavyweight bout against Anthony Joshua.
Ngannou will take on Joshua in Saudi Arabia this Friday, but he chose to engage in some lively verbal exchanges with his former opponent Fury during Wednesday’s press conference.
While Joshua remained relatively quiet, Fury responded to Ngannou’s implication that he had faced difficulties during their October bout.
“I had one win over [Fury] and I want one more,” Ngannou said with a grin.
Fury defiantly declared his willingness to confront Ngannou inside the “octagon,” the trademarked cage of the UFC. In response, Ngannou asserted that Fury’s only chance lies in a boxing ring adhering to boxing rules.
Ngannou held the title of UFC heavyweight champion until his departure from the organization last year.
The 37-year-old ventured into boxing, facing Fury in his debut four months ago. Despite a controversial split-decision loss, Ngannou made headlines by knocking down the WBC champion in the third round.
The clash between Ngannou and Fury took place at the residence of Saudi power player Turki Alalshikh on Tuesday, with Ngannou displaying a confident demeanor on Wednesday while Fury was present in the audience.
“I’m just getting started. I don’t think that [beating Joshua] will make any statement of my career because the road is still long,” he said.
The remarkable possibility remains that Ngannou could fight for a world title in his third boxing bout, should he beat Joshua in what is only his second fight.
“I really think I haven’t shocked the world yet,” he said, adding he is “still learning” the art of boxing.
At Monday’s grand arrivals, Joshua, aged 34, seemed composed, while his demeanor at the open workouts the following day hinted at some irritability.
During the news conference, Joshua exhibited a more cheerful disposition. However, consistent with previous fight weeks, the Watford-native appeared hesitant to provide soundbites or participate in verbal sparring as the fight draws nearer.
Asked for his response on Ngannou saying he will look for a knockout, Joshua succinctly replied: “Let’s go. The best man will always win. It’s not rocket science.”
The headliners shared a respectful and jovial moment when Ngannou presented his opponent with a pair of wireless headphones. Joshua is known to frequently attend news conferences with music playing in just one ear.
Promoter Hearn confidently forecasted that his fighter would ascend to become the undisputed champion. He also highlighted the possibility of Friday’s victor facing either Oleksandr Usyk or Fury as a potential opponent, likely in 2025.
Usyk, the holder of the WBA, WBO, and IBF titles, is set to clash with WBC belt-holder Fury in May for the undisputed heavyweight championship, with a rematch already in place.